Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Proofs Conclusive, Challenging
Investigation and Exami-
nation.
Clarksville's Location and Past
History ALI Prove the
Present Boom is
a Reality.
Old Hickory's Cannon Balls.

| CCpSg OhfANA LIB iAiNNA anu
dent of the /. A. & T., railroad, and re-
qnested OF him an article he had prom
ised us in regard to the iron interest OF
GAINESVILLE and vicinity.
He replied that he had been so busy
that he had not time to prepare it, but
hoped to be able to fulfill his promise
soon. We asked him II he would an
swer a direct question of public inter-
est, and he replied that he would We
then asked him what he thought OF
GAINESVILLE and its vicinity as eligible
points for the establishment of iron
manufactures.
His reply was, 81 can answer this
question best by telling you what has
been. Back in the COS there was an
organization in this city, occupying the
house, now occupied by our worthy citi-
zen, Mr.. John Young, on the public
square, then one OF the handsomest
buildings in the city, known as "The
Iron Mems Board of Trade" to which
; belonged firms representing from rs to
t 100 Charcoal Furnaces, several FORCES,
} and two Rolling Mills, the latter two the
| manufactures of the celebrated Tennes-
! see Boiler and Bar Iron.
. Anthony Vaneer of Cumberland
Furnace, John Stacker of Lafayette
! Furnace, Woods. Lewis & Co., Of Cum
> land Iron Works, Bear Spring, Dover,
>. and Bellwood Furnaces, and Randolph
4 Forge. They were successors to Woods,
q Stacker, & Co. Daniel Hilman & Bros.
q of Tennessee Rolling Mills, Furnaces
g and FORCES, Cobb, Philips & Co., of,
Clark, LAGRANGE and EclipsesFurnaces
Jackson. McKernon & Co, Mt. Vernon,
}: Louisa and Tennessee Furnaces; j. d.
, West, Sailors Rest Furnace; Robt.
;. Steele of Yellow Creek Furnace, Louis
) Irwin, & Co., Saline Furnace; DeGraf-
fenreid & Co., of Mammoth Furnace
II and William Kelly & Co., of Eddyville
E Furnace. The William Kelly OF
II this firm was the original inventor OF
y the process of making what is now gen.
g orally known as Bessimer steel. ]
u could extend this list of members il
e necessary. Suffice it to say prophecy
- made 10y my grandfather to my: father,
3. when youth, telling him thathe would
Il live to see the day, when travelling from
l. the mouth of Cumberland river nearly
e to Nashville, that the lights from furn-
d ace stacks could be seen from one to
n another along the whole distance was
5. afterwards almost literally fulfilled
p The works of the parties heretofore
Ie named, or their successors, with others
h that could mention, were in success
g full operation up to the day when the
" fires of sectional jealousy lighted the
is torch of war and the prosperity OF our
Or iron industries went down with the fall
ID of Fort Donelson-the first sacrifice
III being the Cumberland Rolling Mills Of
Woods, Lewis & Co., which were burn.
ed by the Federal authorities immedi-
ately after the furrender of the Fort
\. At this place was manufactured the
ID Justly celebrated Boiler and Bar iror
he which at that day had never been sur.
l. passed in quality and believe has new.
he err been equaled since that time by any
If iron ever manufactured in the United
States. desire here to pay to Col G.. T
I'd Lewis of this firm the tribute Justly due
v. him by saying that he was the one man
n more than all others to whom the Soutf
as is indebted for the successful develop
k, ment Of the now large iron interests il
the South
:. The ore beds, the coaling grounds,
:. the lime rock, the Furnace, FORCES and
~ Mill sites exist as they did then-pre
= senting to intelligence, capital and en-
:, ergy aslrich reward as can be leapec
= in any other region or locality-eithel
' in the old South or the New" Now
our people have decided by the organ
k cation Of Land and improvement
l., Company to inform the world OF Clarks
ut vile, her location, advantages and re.
IT, sourees-eOniining themselves in their
ee representations to nothing but til,
If truth, stating nothing that cannot b;
III verified by honest and competent ex
IS animation and investigation. Uniting
ye with our people, whenever you think
ia | can in any manner aid the re-estab.
ID ment OF our torch-lights from furnac,
ne stacks that must be built in and arounC
d. GAINESVILLE you will find me ready t.
e. contribute my mite.
er The old Lafayette Furnace, locate,
nr in this county, made for the city OF st
tn Louis her first water-pipes, and one o
ol the Furnaces of this section furnished
IL the solid shot for Old Hickory's can
. -. - tha. ID .ttla 81 ~. A.f... :.